Device for operating switches.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Y Y PATENTBD JULY 3, J. J, GRD;

PPLIGTIM HL2@ ma, 7. i904 DEVISE POR PERAL'ING SWITCHES.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. GARD, OF HARVEY, LLINOIS, SSIGNOR TO BUDA FOUNDY & MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

RATION OF ILLINOIS.

OF CHlOAGO, lLLINOIS, A CORPO- DEVICE FOR OPERATING SWITCHES.

Specification of ,Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1906.

Application 5161i December 7, 1904. Serial No. 235,871.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. Gann, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harvey, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Imrovements in Devices for Operating Witches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devicesior operating railway signals, switches and the like, w ich devices are characterized by the use of mechanism which may be located either between or outside of the rails adjacent to the switch, and ada ted to move the switch in either direction y means of a aratus actuated by Huid ressure, suppllied and controlled from a distant point.

The objects of my invention are to provide an agparatus of an exceedingly simple and dura e construction, in which the moving parts are thoroughly protected from the injurious effects o moisture, dirt, etc., or the passing of trains. To provide an apparatus 1n which the maximum amount of pressure Wiil be utilized to o crate the moving parte, and one in which t e moving parts will be subjected to a minimum amount of weer upon their bearing surfaces..`

These objects and other advantages which may hereinafter a pear, I attain by means of the construction i ustrated in preferred form in the accompanyin drawings wherein- Figure l is a top p an view of my improved ap aratus, with the cover removed;

igure 2 is a ion itudinal section of the same, teken on the lgme (2) of Figure l, and

Fi re 3 is a cross sectional view, taken on the line (3) of Figure 1, illustratin the manner of connecting the operating ever to a switch point.

By reference to the accompanying drawings it will be seen that in In improved construction the moving parts t ercof and those parts liable to be damaged by exposure, are lnclosed in a casing 4 provided with a removable cover 5, secured thereto by means of screws, as shown, or in an other suitable manner. The jointbetweent ecoverand the casing being rendered Water tight b an inte osed asket 6. The casing is a so provi ed wit outwardly projecting lugs 7, for securing it in position.

To the inside of one end of the casing is pivotally secured an operating lever 8, and a connecting rod Q, which passes through a Stuililig box l0, tapped into one side of the casing, servesV to connect the free "end of the leverrS, to the switch oint, as illustrated in F igrurer. Vinflatable ags 11 are interposed between the lever 8 and the sides of the cesing and serve to alternately shift the iever and in so doing impart motion to the switch point, through the Amedium of the rod 9, in a manner to be presently described.

In order to provide the maximum amount of bearin surface for the bags between the level` an sides of the casing, and to obtain the fail benefit of such lar e surface during the entire period when the gags are being inlated, the opposite sides of the casing are VVmade approximately parallel with the ever S, when it is at the extreme limits of its stroke. The bags bein thus approximately Wedge shaped, it Will ie seen t at the bearing surface is equally distributed throughout their entire length, thus adding greatly to the iife Y of the bags and facilitating the movement of the ever. The bags are provided at their smaler ends with necks 12, secured to noznies 13, projectin through the small end of the casin and a apte-d to be connected in any suita le manner to a supply of fluid under pressure.

In the operation of my device the bags are alternately inflated and deflated, such alternate action serving to shift the lever 8, in opposite directions. The inflation and dedation of the bags aiternately may be controlled by any suitabie arrangement of valves, located at a convenient point, but which does not form a part of the present invention.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that my device may be located either between or outside of the rails at any desired point, as the rod 9, may project through either side of the casing Without in any way changin the relative position of the parts. It vvil also be seen that the operative arts of my device are entirely inclosed in t e casing and electually protected from the injurious effects of dirt, moisture, etc., by reason of the gasket 6 and stufng box 1 Having thus described my invention and IOO illustrated its use, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the followin 1. switch operating device comprising a casing, a lever pivoted within the casing, a rod attached to the lever and a flexible bag, consisting of a body provided with two oppositely disposed bearing faces and an inlet neck or nozzle secured intermediate said bearing faces, said bag being adapted to shift the lever.

2. A switch operating device comprising a casing, a lever pivoted within the casing, a rod attached to the lever together with flexible bags ada ted to alternately shift the lever in opposite irections said bags consisting of bodies each provided with two o positely disposed bearing faces and inlet nec is or nozzles secured intermediate said bearing faces.

3. A switch operating device comprising a casing provided with a removable cover, a stuffing box located in one of its sides adjacent to the end, a lever pivoted inside the casing at its op osite end, a rod passin through the stuffin box and connecting wit 1 the free end of the ever, bags interposed between the lever and sides of the casin and adapted to alternately shift the positlon of the lever when inflated, together with means for inflating and deflating the bags alternately, substantially as described.

4. A switch mechanism actuator, consisting of a body provided with two oppositely disposed bearing faces and an inlet neck or nozzle secured intermediate4 said bearing faces.

5. A switch mechanism actuator, consisting of a body provided with two oppositely` disposed bearing faces, said faces being free from openings and an inlet neck or nozzle secured intermediate said bearing faces, substantially as described.

6. A switch mechanism actuator, consisting of a wedge shaped flexible body provided with oppositely disposed bearing faces and an inlet neck or nozzle secured to the smaller end thereof intermediate said bearing faces substantially as described.

7. A switch operating device comprising a closed casing, a lever pivoted Within the casing, a rod attached to the lever, a stufling box for said rod together with flexible bags adapted to alternately shift the lever in opposite directions, said bags consisting of wedge shaped bodies each provided with oppositely disposed bearing faces and inlet necks or nozzles secured to the smaller ends thereof between the bearin faces.

In testimony whereof have hereunder signed my name in the presence of the two subscribed witnesses.

JOHN J. GARD.

Vitnesses:

PAUL CARPENTER., AALBERT G. MILLER. 

